Source: MotoGP

Marc Marquez continues his march forth in the MotoGP World Championship, securing a seemingly effortless pole position for the first-ever event at the new Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina.

The Repsol Honda rider confirmed his early practice pace was no fluke, easily outpacing title rival, Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, in the telling stages of the Q2 session.

Marquez lapped 0.742 seconds quicker than Lorenzo to secure his third pole from three attempts in 2014, an imposing record as he eyes a trifecta of wins to open his title defence.

A late change to the softer compound rear tyre yielded results for Lorenzo, who was able to leapfrog his way from fifth to the middle of the front row.

Dani Pedrosa qualified his factory Honda in third after holding down the second-fastest time for much of the session.

Row two is headed by Aleix Espargaro, impressive again on the Open-spec Forward Yamaha package. Next to him is Andrea Dovizioso for Ducati, followed by the second Movistar Yamaha to be piloted by Valentino Rossi.

Bradley Smith (Monster Tech3 Yamaha), Andrea Iannone (Pramac Ducati) and Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP) will fight it out from row three in positions seven through nine respectively, while the Gresini Honda of Alvaro Bautista completes the top 10, 1.746 seconds away from the benchmark laid down by Marquez.

Broc Parkes continued his impressive showing for Paul Bird Motorsport, again out-qualifying a host of more experienced riders in class to secure 18th place on the grid.

Parkes is well-placed to attack for more championship points in only his third-ever outing in the top-tier category.

Marc VDS Racing Team rider Esteve Rabat laid down a late flyer to secure pole in the Moto2 class, his third successive achievement from as many attempts with the his new squad.

AirAsia Caterham’s Johan Zarco was just 0.010 seconds in arrears, with Xavier Simeon securing the final spot on the front row on his Federal Oil-backed Gresini machine.

Moto3 graduates Maverick Vinales and Luis Salom bookend Jonas Folger on row two, with Mattia Pasini, Alex de Angelis and Simone Corsi completing the third row.

Australia’s Anthony West will start from grid position 20 on his QMMF Racing Team mount after setting a lap just 1.116 seconds off Rabat’s best.

Continuing his dominant showing in 2014, Jack Miller registered his second successive pole position in the Moto3 class, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider narrowly fending off the challenge from SaxoPrint-RTG’s Efren Vaquez by a 0.052-second margin.

Aussie Miller has led every session this weekend and will head into Sunday’s races amongst the favourites for victory once again.

Rounding out the front row for Red Bull Husqvarna was Brit Danny Kent, with Jakub Kornfeil and Romano Fenati completing the top five.

Arthur Sissis will fight from grid position 29 as he continues to come to grips with the new Mahindra package.

2014 MotoGP World Championship

Round three – Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina

MotoGP qualifying results:
1. Marc MARQUEZ 1m37.683
2. Jorge LORENZO 1m38.425
3. Dani PEDROSA 1m38.651
4. Aleix ESPARGARO 1m38.794
5. Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1m38.856
6. Valentino ROSSI 1m38.949
7. Bradley SMITH 1m38.958
8. Andrea IANNONE 1m39.237
9. Stefan BRADL 1m39.297
10. Alvaro BAUTISTA 1m39.429
18. Broc PARKES (AUS) 1m40.981

Moto2 qualifying results:
1. Esteve RABAT 1m43.961
2. Johann ZARCO 1m43.971
3. Xavier SIMEON 1m44.038
4. Maverick VIÑALES 1m44.168
5. Jonas FOLGER 1m44.174
6. Luis SALOM 1m44.322
7. Mattia PASINI 1m44.376
8. Alex DE ANGELIS 1m44.384
9. Simone CORSI 1m44.440
10. Takaaki NAKAGAMI 1m44.444
20. Anthony WEST (AUS) 1m45.077

Moto3 qualifying results:
1. Jack MILLER (AUS) 1m49.200
2. Efren VAZQUEZ 1m49.252
3. Danny KENT 1m49.617
4. Jakub KORNFEIL 1m49.785
5. Romano FENATI 1m49.856
6. Francesco BAGNAIA 1m49.875
7. Niklas AJO 1m49.876
8. Alex RINS 1m49.918
9. Livio LOI 1m49.969
10. Alessandro TONUCCI 1m50.161
29. Arthur SISSIS 1m51.949

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